Logic prevailed. Not in everything, but in something... After seeing Georgia unbelievably be power ranked eighth overall by some delightful ESPN writers, look at where Georgia is ranked now! The Bulldogs moved up three spots after one of their most impressive performances of the season, dominating the SEC's other Bulldogs of Mississippi State throughout inside their house of worship.
While teams like Alabama, Indiana, Ohio State and Texas A&M are still ranked ahead of them, and deservedly so, where are the BYU Cougars, Ole Miss Rebels and Oregon Ducks? Ole Miss dropped the least, having gone from No. 6 to No. 7 during a bye week. That happens. Oregon fell from No. 5 to No. 8 after winning ugly in Iowa City. BYU got crushed by Texas Tech in Lubbock to stumble to No. 10.
Here is who the ESPN writers power ranked the 25 best teams in the country heading into Week 12.
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Texas A&M Aggies
- Indiana Hoosiers
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Ole Miss Rebels
- Oregon Ducks
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- BYU Cougars
- Texas Longhorns
- Oklahoma Sooners
- Utah Utes
- Vanderbilt Commodores
- Miami Hurricanes
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
- USC Trojans
- Michigan Wolverines
- Pittsburgh Panthers
- Louisville Cardinals
- Virginia Cavaliers
- Tennessee Volunteers
- Iowa Hawkeyes
- North Texas Mean Green
- Cincinnati Bearcats
This looks to be a little more justifiable, to be honest. Oregon and Notre Dame are among the last few teams into the playoff field as at-large bids, while BYU is among the likes of Texas, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, and I guess Utah, as viable playoff contenders. ESPN power ranking BYU, Ole Miss and Oregon was dumb when it happened. Thankfully, water found its level to provide us common sense.
Georgia may stumble if it loses to Texas on Saturday night, but could crack the top four with a big win.
ESPN appropriately power ranks Georgia after robbing them a week ago
Of the four teams ranked ahead of Georgia, Indiana, Ohio State and Texas A&M are all undefeated in Power Two leagues. Ohio State and Texas A&M are 9-0, while Indiana is the first undeniable College Football Playoff lock at 10-0. They could lose to both Wisconsin and arch rival Purdue and would still make the field in some way, shape or form. Alabama has one loss, but it beat Georgia head-to-head.
While Georgia has the head-to-head victory over Ole Miss, the Rebels could leapfrog them if they win out and Georgia stumbles to either Texas or Georgia Tech. That is totally fair and justifiable, as Ole Miss has looked like a playoff-caliber team throughout. However, the Rebels may need to win out by beating Florida and Mississippi State to not be possibly hanging in the balances with a weak resume.
The other team to keep an eye on behind Georgia is Texas Tech. The Big 12 may not be the same league as the SEC, but the Red Raiders look like a team that could hold its own vs. SEC competition with the magnificent roster Joey McGuire has helped build with some NIL. If the Red Raiders win out, they might overtake the Dawgs to be a top-five team. That may not be the worst thing in the world...
Truth be told, Georgia was always going to be a better team than BYU, Ole Miss and Oregon anyway.